Keir Starmer names new cabinet, with Reeves as chancellor and Rayner as deputy PM (2024)

Summary

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his cabinet, with Rachel Reeves becoming the UK's first female chancellor
Angela Rayner is made deputy prime minister, Yvette Cooper becomes home secretary and David Lammy is the new foreign secretary
Wes Streeting, the new health secretary, says "the NHS is broken" and that talks on the junior doctor pay dispute will begin next week
Starmer vows to restore trust in politics and build a "government of service", in his first speech as prime minister
Rishi Sunak said he would resign as Conservative Party leader, after Labour's landslide victory in the general election

Live Reporting

Edited by Francesca Gillett

We're pausing our coveragepublished at 00:05 6 July
00:05 6 July
This page has been running since dawn on Thursday, so we're going to give it (and us) a rest.
Just for a couple of hours, though - we'll be back shortly with a new live stream of updates as Starmer enters his first full day as prime minister. You can find that stream here.
Here's our latest report from what happened today as Starmer was sworn in, and this is a run-down of who's in his new cabinet.
We've also got some other great reads, including:
- Prof Sir John Curtice looking at what the results mean
- What went wrong for the Tories?
- What Labour plan to do in government
- The election in maps and charts
A momentous day comes to an endpublished at 23:58 5 July
23:58 5 July
Barbara Tasch
Live page editor
Image source, PA Media
After a landslide victory for Labour - the party holds 412 outof 650 seats in the House of Commons - Sir Keir Starmer becamethe UK's new prime minister today.
The Conservatives are left with 121 seats after the worst resultin their history.
We're still waiting on one final result of the election - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, which will begin a recount tomorrow morning. But it will not help the SNP, who has already conceded defeat there, and also had a bad night, losing 38 seats and ending with nine.
The last 24 hours went better for the Liberal Democrats, who nowhave 71 MPs, Reform which have five and the Green Party which has four.
The transition from Sunak to Starmer happened very swiftly, both leaders gave speechesoutside 10 Downing Street - with Starmer promising to build a "government of service".
Starmer then started appointing Labour MPs and peers to 22 keycabinet positions, including a record 11 women.
"The work of change begins immediately", Starmer saidbefore entering his new home, and this evening we are hearing that the Rwandascheme - one of the flagship plans of the last government - is effectivelyover.
The first cabinet meeting of the new government will take placeSaturday morning, and we'll be back with more updates. Thank you very much for joining us today, a day that is certain tobe mentioned in history books.
EU head 'looking forward to strengthening cooperation' with Starmerpublished at 23:47 5 July
23:47 5 July
Image source, EPA
Starmer has been speaking to world leaders this evening and the latest on his to-dial list was President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Keir Starmer wished her well in her upcoming parliamentary election and she congratulated him on his election victory, a Downing Street spokeswoman says.
"The leaders discussed areas of close co-operation between the UK and the EU, including support for Ukraine, climate change and regional security."
Following the call Von der Leyen released a statement , externalsaying she looked forward to meeting Starmer to discuss how they would "strengthen cooperation and reset the relationship".
Corbyn says result 'not exactly the resounding win' that seats suggestpublished at 23:33 5 July
23:33 5 July
Image source, EPA
Jeremy Corbyn says Labour's victory in the general election is "more about the destruction of the Tory Party" than a resounding win for Labour.
Corbyn was re-elected as the MP for Islington North last night - but as an independent, beating his former party Labour into second place.
"I think the result forLabour is not exactly the resounding win that would be indicated by the seats," Corbyn tells Shaun Ley on the BBC's World Tonight.
"In fact the vote share has gone up by a tiny amount since 2019 and the popularvote is less than in the last two general elections," says the former Labour leader.
“The results are much moreabout the destruction of the Tory Party than anything else," says Corbyn - and adds he's concerned whether the new government has “boxed itself in” so it can’t make the economicchanges that the country needs.
Behind the Stories: Election night with Sir John Curticepublished at 23:14 5 July
23:14 5 July
The country's most famous polling guru, Professor Sir John Curtice, has been covering elections on TV for 45 years.
Sometimes jokingly referred to as "the Sultan of swing", Curtice has become an institution of election coverage in the UK.
We've been hearing his take on exactly what it's like to cover elections.
He says: "If you can't stand the heat you shouldn't go into the kitchen" and describes his job as:
Quote Message
An extremely difficult exercise, highly problematic, highly uncertain. It's essentially about are we understanding what's going on correctly."
You can watch the short documentary Behind the Stories: Election Night with Sir John Curtice in the video below or on BBC iPlayer.
An intentional diplomatic shift for UK-Ireland relationspublished at 22:38 5 July
22:38 5 July
Chris Page
Ireland correspondent
There are already signs of warming relations between the new government and Dublin, with expectations on both sides of a “reset”.
The British-Irish relationship was widely seen as fraying during the years after the Brexit referendum.
Sir Keir Starmer had a phone conversation with his Irish counterpart Simon Harris this evening - and Harris accepted an invitation to visit Downing Street in less than a fortnight’s time.
The Irish Foreign Minister (Tánaiste) Michéal Martin has also spoken to new Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.
Martin says they have agreed to work together on a “path forward” for issues relating to investigations into killings during the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Dublin had strongly disagreed with the Conservatives’ legislation to grant a conditional amnesty to suspects.
So the change in tone this early indicates an intentional diplomatic shift.
Local butcher delivered 'election pie' to Sunak's house last nightpublished at 22:25 5 July
22:25 5 July
Nathan Standley
Education reporter in Northallerton
Earlier today we chatted to voters in Rishi Sunak’s constituency of Richmond andNorthallerton, as the former PM made his way home from London.
He’spopular around here, and most people we speak to say they’re happy he’s beenre-elected as their MP.
Oneof them is Oliver Kitson, of Kitson’s Butchers on Northallerton’s High Street.
He’sthe man behind the “election pie”, a unique creation filled with pork, Stiltoncheese and sweet chutney that the butcher delivered specially to the former PMand his team last night to enjoy as the polls closed.
Sunakis regularly seen around town, and hopefully will be more so, the butcher says,now that he has a bit more time on his hands.
In pictures: The day after the night beforepublished at 22:19 5 July
22:19 5 July
“Itwas a night of a thousand stories," political editor Chris Mason said this morning, and the same can be said of what unfolded today.
Let's take a moment to look back on some eye-catching moments from a huge day in British politics:
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, PA Media
Image source, EPA
Image source, Reuters
Boxes, boxes, boxes - what's next for the new PM?published at 22:05 5 July
22:05 5 July
Rosemary McCabe
What happens when a new prime minister movesinto Downing Street?
As Sir Keir Starmer begins running thecountry, he also faces the task of unpacking bags, moving his family in andturning a political powerhouse into a comfortable family home.
This is no easy feat, especially as thehistoric residence has been home to so many different families over the years.
Learn more in our story aboutwhat happens on moving day, from getting through the black door to meetingLarry the cat and helping everyone settle in.
Labour is back in Scotland - this is bigpublished at 21:57 5 July
21:57 5 July
Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor
Image source, Getty Images
For the first time since 2010 Labour has won a national election north of the border, crushing the SNP and bringing to a juddering halt the nationalists' long-running winning streak.
This is big.
The SNP successfully persuaded independence supporters to back them in all three Westminster elections in the decade since the 2014 referendum.
That was an almost unbeatable coalition of support. If anything like 45% of voters side with one party and the others have to share 55% between them - the party of 45% wins.
This time that link appears to have broken.
- Read more of my analysis here
Sinn Féin becomes NI's largest Westminster partypublished at 21:48 5 July
21:48 5 July
Davy Wilson and Chris Andrews
BBC News NI
Image source, PA Media
As we reported earlier, the largest party across Northern Ireland's councils, Assembly and at Westminster is now Sinn Féin.
The nationalist party, which does not take its seats in the House of Commons, now has seven seats - the same number as in 2019.
Its leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has said it's time to "prepare for a new future together on this island".
The party came out on top after a disappointing night for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - its eight seats in 2019 have been reduced to five.
Its most high profile casualty in yesterday's vote was Ian Paisley, who lost the North Antrim seat his father had first won in 1970.
In Lagan Valley, Sorcha Eastwood of the Alliance Party took the seat which had been held by the former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson since 1997.
- You can read more about the results here
Why the appointment of Hermer as attorney general is significantpublished at 21:41 5 July
21:41 5 July
Daniel Sandford
Home Affairs Correspondent
The prime minister’s appointment of Richard Hermer KC as attorney general is one of the most legally significant of recent times.
Hermer was a member of Sir Keir Starmer’s old chambers, Doughty Street Chambers before moving to Matrix Chambers.
He has brought significant human rights cases against the government including representing Abu Zubaydah in his allegations of UK collusion in torture and representing Kenyans who sued the government for alleged torture in the colonial era.
His appointment also leaves Emily Thornberry who was shadow attorney general without a job.
It means a highly-respected lawyer has taken this important legal position, but he is one who has made a career of suing the government.
Bridget Phillipson: The keen runner and Starmer allypublished at 21:33 5 July
21:33 5 July
Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent
Bridget Phillipson is a runner. And anyone who has doneany running will know the benefits of two things: a lot of training and atrusty canine companion.
In her race to become education secretary, Phillipson hashad the latter sorted in her very adorable Jack Russell, Maisie.
As for the training, well, it’s clear from what she'ssaid about her own childhood that her vision for education in England has beenlong in the making.
She’s spoken about growing up in Washington, Tyne and Wear,with a single mother in poverty.
She’s praised inspirational teachers at hercomprehensive and lamented that she never felt she fitted in at the Universityof Oxford, where she was the co-chair of the Labour club.
MP for Houghton and Sunderland South since 2010,Phillipson has stuck with Sir Keir Starmer since he became leader in 2020 –joining his shadow cabinet first as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury andbecoming shadow education secretary the following year.
Her top priorities, she says, are childcare and earlyyears – which makes sense, given her emphasis on her own start in life.
Phillipson’s race to the cabinet is over. Now it’ll be arace to check off a lengthy to-do list.
Opportunity shouldn't be for 'lucky few', says education secretarypublished at 21:28 5 July
21:28 5 July
Image source, Reuters
Newly-appointed Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the new Labour government will "break down" barriers to give all children better opportunities.
Phillipson says "opportunity should be for all - not just a lucky few" and adds the new Labour government would put education at the "heart" of its changes.
She says children across "too many parts" of the country "don't have the opportunities to succeed" and the government she's part of "will make sure they do".
"We'll break down those barriers to opportunity through supporting children to get the best start in life, high and rising school standards for all and skills training to support growth, so that everyone can achieve and thrive," Phillipson says.
First time voters cautiously optimistic about Labour futurepublished at 21:22 5 July
21:22 5 July
Pria Rai
Newsbeat presenter in Leeds
The last time Labour were in power, Maisie Smart and RosalieKerr were school kids “doing colouring books”.
Yesterday, the two students in Leeds cast their vote forthe first time and tell BBC Newsbeat “it felt good to actually have a voice”.
They are hopeful for the future but also cautious about theLabour Party and Sir Keir Starmer as PM.
“He’s gone back on climate promises and promises to supportyoung people like us,” Rosalie, 21 says.
“Begrudgingly, we voted for Labour given our opinions on him[Starmer]. But it is the better of the two parties,” Maisie, 20, says.
“We were happy to vote Labour in terms of what itrepresents. Things can only get better, but let’s hope they actually do,”Rosalie adds.
The NHS is broken, says Streetingpublished at 21:16 5 July
21:16 5 July
Hugh Pym
Health editor
There has been a significant shift in approach at one major department as a result of the change of government.
In his opening statement the new Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said the stance of his department will change.
The government will be honest about the challenges facing the country and serious about tackling them, he has said.
Streeting adds that “from today the policy of this department is that the NHS is broken”.
He went on to say that he has called the British Medical Association and that talks on the junior doctor pay dispute will begin next week.
The BMA describes the call as “positive”.
What - and who - could come next for the Tories?published at 21:12 5 July
21:12 5 July
Ione Wells
Political correspondent
Rishi Sunak has confirmed he will resign as Tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor.
There have been murmurings for the last few weeks about whether an interim leader would be appointed to avoid the awkwardness of, for example, the former PM having to do Prime Minister's Questions from the opposition benches.
Could this be someone who served in the cabinet previously - like Sir Oliver Dowden, James Cleverly, or even Jeremy Hunt, who just about scraped back into the Commons?
If so, it would probably need to be someone who doesn't actually want to run for leader full time.
Otherwise, Sunak could stay on until the next Tory leadership contest concludes.
There are some MPs who have been working behind the scenes for a long time on shoring up their support, including Kemi Badenoch (the bookies' favourite) who is on the right of the party, and Tom Tugendhat, who is more to the centre.
Former contenders like Suella Braverman and former Sunak ally-turned-critic Robert Jenrick are tipped to run too.
They both spent time in the Home Office, are on the right of the party, and have criticised the government's record on immigration.
One interesting thing to note, though, is who the remaining Tory MPs are, and what that might mean for who wins support among the parliamentary party.
British politics changed today, the challenges facing the country have notpublished at 21:03 5 July
21:03 5 July
Chris Mason
Political editor
The thrust of Keir Starmer's message was to emphasise a desirefor stability, in contrast to the chaos of recent years.
His huge majority may help deliver that, but doesn't guaranteeit. Labour's share of the vote is the lowest won by a post war single partygovernment, suggesting a breadth, not a depth to its support.
The Conservatives, for so long the Formula 1 car of Britishpolitics, finds itself wheels off and up on bricks.
Its forthcoming leadership race won't have quite the jeopardy ofchanging driver while in office, but will matter in determining how coherentand effective an opposition to an all powerful new government the Tories canprove to be.
British politics has changed profoundly today. The challengesfor those now leading it have not.
The transfer of power from Conservative to Labour - a rare scene in contemporary Britainpublished at 21:00 5 July
21:00 5 July
Chris Mason
Political editor
Today, the brutality of campaigning yielded to the civility of its aftermath. This morning's prime minister and this afternoon's offering each other compliments, not criticisms.
To stand in Downing Street today, as I have done, was a privilege - to witness something actually quite rare in contemporary British history.
The transfer of power from Conservative to Labour or Labour to Conservative has only happened four times in the last 45 years - 1979, 1997, 2010 and now 2024.
Garnishing the choreography of the changing of the prime ministerial guard - the trips to Buckingham Palace, the still images of the prime ministers shaking hands with the monarch - was a splash of partisan stagecraft too.
Labour activists were brandishing union flags, Welsh flags and the Saltire - and so trying to project an image of a government for all of the UK.
What is Labour promising?published at 20:55 5 July
20:55 5 July
With a resounding victory, Labour says it now has a "clear mandate" to deliver on its promises.
In its manifesto, Labour says its top priorities are:
- providing economic stability
- cutting NHS waiting times
- stopping people smuggling
- setting up an energy firm
- recruiting more police and teachers
There's a long list of pledges within the manifesto's 142 pages, so we have created a handy interactive guide that sums them up so you can easily digest them.
Among them are pledges to change the voting age to 16, nationalise passenger railways, fix an extra million potholes in England, build new prisons, push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, build 1.5 million new homes and cancel the Rwanda scheme.